Sphygomanometer band and method of self-application thereof

• US 3,968,788 A
• Filed: 05/29/1975
• Issued: 07/13/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Paxton Hopkins
• Original Assignee: John Paxton Hopkins
• Inventors: Hopkins, John Paxton
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowe, Delbert B.
• Application Number:
  US05/581,715
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.05 C, 128/2.06, 128/327, 128/DIG. 3
• US Class Current: 600/499
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02233 Occluders specially adapted therefor tourniquets A61B17/132
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/03 Heart-lung

Abstract

The pliant, elongate inflatable band of a sphygomanometer is provided with a pair of elongate tensioning cords each extending from one end of the band to assist a patient in applying the band to an upper portion of his arm without the assistance of another person, thus allowing the patient to take his own blood pressure measurement.

Claims

1. An improved sphygomanometer having an elongate, pliable, inflatable band capable of being self-applied by the patient to an upper portion of one of his arms wherein the improvement comprises:

a pair of elongate tensioning cords each having one end connected to a first end of said inflatable band adjacent opposite longitudinal edge portions thereof, whereby the patient may dispose the first end of said band on his arm and hold it in place by applying tension to said cords while a second end of said band is pulled taut and wrapped circumferentially about the arm overlapping said first band end.

3. The improved sphygomanometer of claim 1 further comprising:

detachable fastening means mounted to said tensioning cords at locations thereon longitudinally spaced from said first end of said inflatable band, said fastening means being adapted for detachable connection to a stationary anchor point adjacent the patient'"'"'s arm for applying tension to said cords while the second end of said band is pulled taut and wrapped around the patient'"'"'s arm.

4. The improved sphygomanometer of claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises:

releasable fastening means jointly connected to said tension cords at a longitudinal position thereon spaced apart from said first end of said inflatable band and being adapted for releasable attachement to a stationary anchor point adjacent the patient'"'"'s upper arm for applying said tension to said cords while a second end of said band is pulled taught and wrapped around the patient'"'"'s arm; and

spreader bar means mounted between said tensioning cords intermediate said first end of said inflatable band and said releasable fastening means for maintaining separation between said cords adjacent said first end of said inflatable band, whereby said second band end may be passed between said cords as said band is wrapped around the patient'"'"'s arm.

2. In a sphygomanometer having an elongate, pliable, inflatable band adapted to be wrapped circumferentially around the upper portion of one arm of the patient and secured thereon under a circumferential tension and having a manually operated air pump means and an air pressure measuring means connected to said inflatable band, the combination therewith comprising:

a pair of elongate tensioning cords each having one end fastened to a first end of said band adjacent opposed longitudinal edge portions thereof for facilitating self-wrapping of said band by the patient, whereby said first end of said band may be held in place on the patient'"'"'s arm by applying tension to said cords at points spaced from their fastened ends while at the same time pulling a second end of said band taut and wrapping it between said cords around the arm overlapping said first band end and securing said band to itself under circumferential tension.

5. A method by which a patient applies an elongated sphygomanometer band to an upper portion of one of his arms, comprising the steps of:

fastening a pair of tensioning cords to a first end of said band adjacent opposed longitudinal edge portions thereof;

placing said first end of said band on said upper arm with a second end of said band and said cords extending generally about said arm in opposite circumferential directions;

applying tension to said cords at locations thereon spaced apart from said arm and from said first end of said band so that said cords become taut and extend substantially tangentially to the arm in spaced apart parallelism with the spacing between said cords substantially corresponding to the width of said band; and

grasping a second end of said band and pulling it taut against the tension established in said cords at the first end of said band and circumferentially wrapping said second end of said band about the arm passing it between said tensioned cords and securing said band in a tension condition on said arm.

6. The method set forth in claim 5, wherein said steps are further defined by:

placing said first end of said band on the upper portion of said first named arm with said cords extending downwardly adjacent the outside of such arm and the second end of said band extending downwardly adjacent the inside of said first named arm;

passing said cords underneath said first named arm and to either side of said downwardly extending second band end and grasping said cords with the hand of the patient'"'"'s second arm, allowing the cords to slip under tension in said hand while drawing said hand generally toward the front center of the patient'"'"'s body;

grasping one of said cords with the hand of said first named arm and grasping the other said cord in the patient'"'"'s mouth to free the hand of the second arm;

7. reaching with the hand of the second arm over the upper portion of the first named arm and grasping the second end of said band and pulling it upwardly adjacent the outside of said first named arm and circumferentially wrapping said band about such arm overlapping the first end of said band therewith;

and

securing said band in said circumferentially wrapped and tensioned condition with said hand of said second arm.